RUTHERFORDTON — Diane Drew Sherer Tucker of Rutherfordton, author of a series of eight books entitled the “Pentambi Series” and the “Darby Rumbles Series,” will be at the Rutherford County Visual Artists Center from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 3 for a book signing of her latest book “Petambi and the Moon.” The artist center is located on Main Street in Rutherfordton.

Sherer Tucker who is the owner of Diane Tucker Studios has 18 years of writing experience on various topics is also skilled at illustrating children’s stories and poetry.She is an artist and playwright has taught dance, performed as a liturgical dancer and worked as a professional clown.She is a graduate of Bennington College with a bachelor’s degree in dance and Northwestern University where she completed studies for a master’s degree in theater arts and speech communication.

In 2011 her play “Darby Rumbles Dolls” was produced with a cast of more than 50 children and adults. She played the lead, a funny old woman named Darby.Sherer Tucker also wrote the 19 songs that were a part of the production,has written other plays and children’s books and done illustrations for these works.

Her latest work is “Petambi and the Moon”, a work geared toward middle school students. It is centered on high school romance, musicals, and the study of Genesis.

This latest work is 140 pages long and has more than 25 moon illustrations done by Sherer Tucker. Proceeds from of both the hardback book and the e-book will go to the Fine Arts Center for Abused Children.

For more information Sherer Tucker’s work or the upcoming book signing, contact her at 828-286-0846.

Cooperative Extension hosts pie contest

FOREST CITY — Saturday is the first of six pie contests sponsored by the Rutherford County Cooperative Extension office.

This year, as part of the Farmers Market Special Events Series, a pie contest will be held every first Saturday of the month from May through October.

The contest will take place at the new Farmers Market location at 172 Depot Street in Forest City.

Saturday’s contest is for strawberry pie.

Entry forms are available at Cooperative Extension on Callahan Koon Road in Spindale. Entry forms and recipes must be submitted by the Thursday prior to the Saturday contest. Pies must use at least two cups of produce, which has been grown in North Carolina, preferably in Rutherford County. Entries will be judged on taste, texture, and appearance.

For a complete list of guidelines and entry forms, contact Cooperative Extension at 287-6010 or drop by 193 Callahan Koon Road in Spindale.

Equestrians for the Cure trail ride

HOLLIS — The sixth annual Equestrians for the Cure will be Saturday, May 3.

SPINDALE— Get your walking shoes ready for a fun, family day in an effort to find a cure for cystic fibrosis. The Rutherfordton Great Strides walk is at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at Isothermal Community College.

The event will consist of a 5K walk around the campus followed by refreshments. Holly Pruett, one of the event organizers, said this is the third annual walk in Rutherford County. She walks because her son Landon Pruett, 3, has cystic fibrosis.

“We do this for our kids. The other woman who started it and I, our children have CF. A few other families walk for children that have it as well,” Pruett said. “I like seeing the support and family and friends that come out for such a great cause.”

Donations for the Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) and registration for the walk will be accepted during the walk or online at http://www.cff.org/great_strides/HollyPruett8363.

Check-in on Saturday is 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 9:30 a.m. For more information call the CFF Charlotte Chapter at 704-321-7852 or email mphilpott@cff.org.

Celebrating 40 yearsSMCC to hold open house and banquet

BOSTIC— South Mountain Christian Camp (SMCC) in Bostic is celebrating its 40th anniversary with an open house and banquet on Saturday. The open house is at 4 p.m. and the banquet is at 6:05 p.m.

“We are going to have a reception area in the Joy Center of the camp and that will be a chance for people to meet the staff and talk with us about the things that are going on at camp recently,” Steve Collins, executive director of SMCC, said. “At the same time we are going to be doing guided tours of the camp. About every 30 minutes we will take a group out on a drive through tour.”

After the open house, the banquet will be held in the gym. During the banquet there will be a meal and a presentation of the plans for the upcoming summer camp. Camp Founder O.A. Fish will also speak on the vision of the camp.

“We call it a appreciation banquet because it’s a chance for us to express appreciation for the community for supporting us and it’s an opportunity for our supporters to come and see what’s been going on at camp,” Collins said. “It’s also an opportunity for people to find out more about camp. If they’ve hear about is but they don’t know exactly what goes on or what we have, this is their chance to find out. It’s also a good opportunity for parents who are thinking about sending a kid to camp to come and get to know us.”

Collins said the camp holds the banquet every year, but this time there is more excitement because it is the 40th anniversary. To celebrate there will be cupcakes along with the meal.

“It’s really neat because we have former campers who are now bringing their kids to camp and we get some bringing their grandkids to camp,” Collins said. “It’s become a multi-generational thing for the community. We run into former campers all the time who still remember being at camp when they were kids. We are hoping some of those former campers will come.”

The event is open to anyone. People can RSVP by calling the camp at 828-245-3322. Collins encourages those that can to RSVP so the camp can plan for the meal.

South Mountain Christian Camp is located at 1129 South Mountain Rd. Bostic.